Celosia plant named ‘BKCELLUMAG’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Celosia  plant named ‘BKCELLUMAG’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; magenta-colored flowers arranged on cristate-type inflorescences; and good interiorscape and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Celosia argentea var. cristata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKCELLUMAG’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Beekenkamp Plants B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Feb. 15, 2022, application number 2022/0477. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Celosia plant, botanically known as Celosia argentea var. cristata, commonly referred to as Cockscomb and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKCELLUMAG’.

The new Celosia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Celosia plants that have unique and attractive flowers, long flowering period and good interiorscape and garden performance.

The new Celosia plant originated from a self-pollination in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Celosia argentea var. cristata identified as code number 16-0011-01, not patented. The new Celosia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Celosia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since April, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Celosia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Celosia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKCELLUMAG’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKCELLUMAG’ as a new and distinct Celosia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Magenta-colored flowers arranged on cristate-type         inflorescences.     -   6. Good interiorscape and garden performance.

Plants of the new Celosia differ from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are darker green than         leaves of plants of the parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Celosia are magenta in color         whereas flowers of plants of the parent selection are yellow in         color.

Plants of the new Celosia can be compared to plants of Celosia argentea var. cristata ‘Hot Topic Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Celosia differ primarily from ‘Hot Topic Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Celosia are taller than plants of ‘Hot         Topic Red’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Celosia are darker green in color         than leaves of plants of ‘Hot Topic Red’.     -   3. Plants of the new Celosia have magenta-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘Hot Topic Red’ have red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Celosia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Celosia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKCELLUMAG’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘BKCELLUMAG’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers during the winter in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under commercial cultural practices typical of Celosia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 18° C. and night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Celosia argentea var. cristata     ‘BKCELLUMAG’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia             argentea var. cristata identified as code number 16-0011-01,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Celosia             argentea var. cristata identified as code number 16-0011-01,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days             at temperatures ranging from about 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual typically             grown as a potted plant; upright plant habit; broadly ovate             to nearly globular in overall shape; freely branching habit             with about two basal branches each with about five lateral             branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous to             vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 13.9             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 16.1             cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 20.2 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Internode length: About 4 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical. Texture and luster:             Moderately ribbed, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 186A to 186B. Color, developed: Close             to 186B; at the internodes, close to a blend of 150C to 150D             tinged with 186B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 9.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Long apiculate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire, moderately undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to a blend of 137B and             138A; venation, close to 183A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 177B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.75 mm to             3 mm. Strength: Low, flexible. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 156A; towards the margins, close to             178B. Color, lower surface: Close to 159A; towards the             margins, close to 182C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and arrangement.—Single rotate flowers arranged             in cristate-type terminal compound spikes; flowers face             outwardly to slightly upward depending on position on spike.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 30             flowers per inflorescence and about 800 flowers developing             per plant during the flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about             twelve weeks after pinching; under natural season             conditions, flowering continuous from spring into the autumn             in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Celosia             have good longevity and plants maintain good substance for             about five weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7 mm by 7 mm.         -   Flower height.—About 7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly ovate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; glossy. Color: Close to N75C, 76C and 76D.         -   Petals.—None observed.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically six to eight per             flower arranged in two whorls. Length: About 5 mm. Width:             About 1.2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate, slightly concave. Apex:             Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire, not undulate.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; glossy. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 76C to 76D to lighter than 76D; midvein,             close to 72B. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 76C to 76D to lighter than 76D; midvein, close to 72B;             color becoming closer to 72C and 72D and midvein, closer to             72C, with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: Upright to about 55° from vertical. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color: Close to a blend of 64B and 186A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 80° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to             187A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 76C;             towards the base, close to 76D. Anther size: About 0.3 mm by             1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to             185C to 185D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to             161C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 3 mm.             Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped,             three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 60A. Style length:             About 2.75 mm. Style color: Close to 60A. Ovary color: Close             to 185A to 185B.         -   Floral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One at the base of             each pedicel. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 0.75 mm.             Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acuminate. Base:             Cuneate. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 75A.         -   Crest.—Height: About 4.7 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm to 6 cm.             Color: Close to 183C to 183D; densely pubescent, hairs are             close to 72B in color and towards the apex, more intense             than a blend of 53A and 60A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Celosia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Celosia have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Celosia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Celosia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 9 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Celosia plant named ‘BKCELLUMAG’ as illustrated and described. 